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Women's footballers salary very, just like in men's football, but how much are they paid?
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The question of how much are women's footballers paid varies massively depending on what league they play in and what club they play for. Many top flight women's leagues across the world are now professional, but what that amounts to in salary can vary significantly. So what is the average salary? And how does the WSL compare to other leagues? Here's all you need to know. In the Women's Super League the average women's footballer salary is thought to be around £47, 000. That amount emerged after an investigation by the BBC. Starting salaries are supposedly around £20, 000 and in the past, there have been reports of WSL players holding onto second jobs to supplement their income. Despite the league being professional in name, the reality for players at smaller clubs is that they are unlikely to earn that much money. Bigger names in the league, however, can earn a lot more. It is thought that the highest women's footballer salary in the WSL is Sam Kerr who earns a reported £449, 000 a season. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. Kerr is not the highest paid in the world though with Barcelona's Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati reportedly earning £584, 000 and £835, 000 respectively a season. The pair play in the Liga F and in 2023 player unions agreed to increase the minimum wage from 16, 000 euros (£13, 700) to 21, 000 euros (£18, 000) a year. The amount will then go up to 23, 500 euros (£20, 200) by the 2025-26 season. Salary amounts also vary in other top leagues in Europe. In Germany's Frauen Bundesliga players are thought to earn an average of 3, 500 euros-a-month. France's Ligue 1, from a 2022 report, saw the majority of players earning less than 2, 000 euros-per-month. Players' salaries are also supplemented by earnings from national teams with a number of countries now paying their men's and women's teams the same amount. Brazil, Australia and Norway are just some of the countries who have joined England in paying both sides the same. England players are thought to earn around £2000 a match with many players from both squads donating their match fees to charity. In the USA, there is a strict salary cap in place. The WSL technically has one as well but it is relatively soft, set at 40% of turnover. In the NWSL, however, in an agreement for the 2025 season players must be paid a minimum of $48, 500. Their income can be supplemented with healthcare, housing and transport allowances. Sarah joined the Four Four Two team in September 2024 in a freelance role. She also writes for The Guardian, BBC and Rugby World where she specialises in women's football and rugby. Sarah has a bachelors degree in English and a master's in newspaper journalism. Will Chloe Kelly leave Manchester City in the transfer window? Is Arsenal's HUGE win over Bayern Munich the result to confirm Renée Slegers as their new manager? When is the Women's Champions League quarter-final draw? Four Four Two is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. ©
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